But Joseph (5-11) and Jackson, an inch shorter, stood tall enough. They used their veteran wiles, picked their spots and, ultimately, minimized the damage done to them Sunday by the two 6-5 receivers.

Step up coverage

"Sometimes you're going to lose a battle with guys who are that tall," Jackson said. "You think you've got perfect coverage, but they'll still find a way to get to the ball. You accept that and keep competing, just keep battling them."

Translator

To read this article in one of Houston's most-spoken languages, click on the button below.

Evans might have had his seven receptions, but Jameis Winston targeted him 17 times. That's 10 "wins" for the Texans in a 19-9 victory that didn't score high on style points but put them in a four-way tie for first place in the AFC South at 1-2.

Joseph matched a career best, getting credited with five passes defensed.

"I thought our guys won more than they lost in the one-on-one matchups," Texans coach Bill O'Brien said. "J-Joe came up big for us. He was really in tight coverage where he was able to get his arms up through the bread basket and break up throws, or maybe their guys landed out of bounds.

"I think Kareem competed hard. Kevin Johnson competed hard. I think he has a really bright future in this league."

The rookie Johnson, drafted in the first round by the Texans last spring, continues to mature. Every game brings new challenges for him, but he keeps showing O'Brien he can be trusted to respond.

Welcome to NFL

"It was my first time to see (Evans and Vincent)," Johnson said. "They're good players with a big catch radius. But you try to play your game, feeling them out as the game goes along."

Safety Quintin Demps (5-11) has been around the NFL for eight years, giving him a significant experience edge on Evans. But Jackson, who was held to two catches for 40 yards, has seen everything tried against him over 11 seasons as a pro.

"You've got to know when to be aggressive and when to play off them a little," Demps said of compensating for a height deficit. "You just keep switching off during the game to keep them guessing."

Demps made his first interception since returning to the Texans during the preseason, but it was his ninth since 2013, when he made four for Kansas City.

He also had four picks as a Giant last season.

"Got to make plays, man," said Demps, quickly crediting the Texans' defensive line for creating the opportunity and suggesting he benefited from rookie quarterback Jameis Winston's inexperience. "They did a good job up front of putting pressure on him.

"It was a defense we practiced all week. We had double coverage. (Winston) probably shouldn't have thrown it where he did. I'm just glad I caught it.

"But he's a good one. He's going to grow a lot as a player."

Jones is trouble

Texans DBs won't grow any - in stature - before encountering Atlanta's Julio Jones next Sunday. He's as big a problem for a secondary as a man can be right now, having become the first player with as many as 34 receptions through three games of an NFL season.

With an even dozen in Dallas on Sunday - following games with nine and 13 - he was almost singularly responsible for the Falcons' final 25 unanswered points in a 39-28 comeback win over the Cowboys. Jones' quarterback, Matt Ryan, won't be as easily confounded as Winston, either.

"I'm not thinking about Atlanta just yet," Jackson said. "I want to enjoy today for a little while.